Sliding clasp fastener



May 2, 1939, F. RAFAEL 2,157,084

- smnmc CLASP FASTENER Filed June 25, 1937 F R/r2 RIF/F5151. 4 WM 17th In Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES SLIDING CLASP FASTENER Fritz Rafael, Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany,

assignor to Julius Bloch, London, England Application June 23, 1937. Serial No. 149,796

. In Germany July 2, 1936 4 Claims.

It is already known to employ a sliding clasp fastener for closing for example bags, trunks and the like which are to be locked against opening by unauthorized persons. Two methods have been employed, the one being to construct the pull handle on the slide as hasp for a lock fitted on the container provided with the sliding clasp fastener, and the other being to equip the slide .with a lock to be operated by' a key. Consequently the use of a separate key is necessary in each case.

The object of the invention is, to construct a sliding clasp fastener so that it can be locked against opening by an unauthorized person without the aid of a separate key.

This problem is solved .by constructing directly as parts of a lock the component parts of the slide which actuate the fastener elements. For this purpose the handle of the slide is preferably constructed as an adjusting key. In this instance the wedge of the slide causing the separation of the fastener elements isremovably accommo an angle of 180. If the wedge, after it'has been Y turned through an angle of 180 is removed from the slide, there is 'no longer any member for actuating the fastener elements so that these must remain in the engaged position. To lock them still more securely, a locking element connected with the wedge by a plug coupling is provided on the inner plate of the slide, this element remaining in the slide after the removal of the wedge and, owing to the part rotation of the wedge preceding the removing of the same 40 engages between opposite elements of the fastener elements of the rows of the fastener. In order that the element and the wedge detaohably coupled therewith are held in the two extreme turning positions, the locking element has a plate which turns over the outer side of the inner or bottom plate and effectively acts at two positions mutually displaced through an angle of An embodiment of the invention is illustrated Fig. 4 is'a similar view to Fig. 1, showing the wedge in operative, that is locked position.

Fig. 5 shows in elevation a sliding clasp fastener showing the slide after the removal of the Wedge, being shown in horizontal section. 5

Fig. 6 shows the wedge in perspective view.

Fig. 7 shows the locking element in front elevation. 1

Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. '7.

The slide is made of two plates a and b, the 10 longitudinal edges of which are bent at right angles, and of a web at rigidly connecting the two plates a and b. For the purpose of increasing the rigidity of the slide, it is for example a pressure die casting. A wedge e is, according to the invention, loosely inserted in the space between the two. plates. The outer plate a. has an aperture f corresponding to the contour of the wedge e, through which aperture the wedge can be removed from the slide resting .on the fastener elements. on a. pin 9 of the wedge a handle it is mounted so that it can oscillate freely or it is held by a spring in two positions perpendicular to one another. The wedge c has an axial bore k extended by a continuous longitudinal slot m by means of which it can be slipped on to a locking element 0, 0 0 of substantially T-shaped cross section, rotatable in the bottom plate. The locking element 0 thus couples the wedge with the slide into which it is inserted. The extension of head 0' of thelocking element extends through a. hole in the bottom plate b and on its end a blade spring r is secured .by riveting, this spring having a projection 1" designed to engage in a depression s in the outer surface of the bottom plate 17' and to thus lock the locking element on this plate.

For shifting the slide a, b, d to open the sliding clasp fastener, the wedge e assumes the position shown in Fig. 4, inwhich it is held by the relatively displaced position of the aperture 1 in the outer plate a. For locking the sliding clasp fastener, the wedge is turned through an angle of 180 by means of the attached handle h, and

brought into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

in which it registers with the aperture 1 and can be pulled out therethrough. The locking element o, 0 0 which was hitherto coupled with the wedge and which participates in the turning movement through ahalf revolution, is now in 5Q the position shown in Fig. 5 and locked in' this position by the blade spring-r turned together with it. However, the arms 0 of the locking" element engage between the opposite fastener elements at and lock these.

As the wedge is now missing, -the slide cannot be shifted and the fastener cannot be opened. It is also impossible to forcibly shift the slide along the fastener'element as this is prevented. by the locking effect of the arms Only when the wedge has been again inserted and turned through an angle of 180, the looking effect between the arms 0 and the fastener elements 11. is released and the slide completed so that it can perform its normal function.

A disc with two diametrically opposite projections can be employed instead of the blade spring to serve as locking element for the 6011- pling.

I claim: 7 h v, i

1. A slide for sliding fasteners with a plurality of fastener elements of the class described comprising: a slide body having a front plate and a rear plate, the front plate of said body being provided with an opening of Wedge-shape, an actuating wedge for said fastener elements, said actuating wedge being removably and rotatably arranged in said body, said actuating wedge having a, cross section conforming with said opening and being adapted to be removed through said opening when it is in a position registering therewith, means adapted to hold said actuating means in its operative position in said body when it is rotated into a position not registering with said opening, and means for rotating and removing said wedge.

2. A slide for sliding fasteners with a plurality of fastener elements of the class described comprising: a slide body having a front plate and a rear plate, locking means for an interlocking engagement with said fastener elements, said locking means being rotatably mounted on the rear plate of said body, the front plate of said body being provided with an opening of wedge-shape, an actuating wedge for said fastened elements, said actuating wedge being removably and rotatably arranged in said body and being engaged with said rotatably locking means, said actuating wedge having a cross-. section conforming with said opening and being adapted to be removed through said opening when it is in a position registering therewith, said locking means being in its inoperative position when said actuating means is rotated into its operative position not registering with said opening and being in its operative position when said actuating wedge is rotated into its inoperative position, means adapted to secure sad operative and inoperative positions of said actuating wedge and locking means, and means for rotating and removing said wedge.

3. A slide as claimed in claim 2, in which one and the same means is adapted to secure the operative and inoperative positions of both the actuating wedge and locking means.

4. A slide for sliding fasteners with a plurality of fastener elements of the class described comprising: a slide body having a front plate and a rear plate, said rear plate being provided with a hole and two depressions, said depressions being arranged on the outside of said rear plate at points diametrically opposite to said hole, locking means for an interlocking engagement with said fastener elements, said locking means having a body of substantially T-shape, the free end of the web of said T being provided with an'extensi'on in the form of a pin, said pin passing through said hole for a rotatable arrangement of said locking means in said slide body, a resilient arm, one end of said resilient arm being secured to the free end of said pin,

the other end of said resilient arm being provided with a projection adapted to be engaged with either one of said depressions for securing the operative and inoperative positions of said rotatable locking means, the front plate of said body being provided with an opening of wedgeshape, an actuating wedge for said fastener elements, said actuating wedge being removably and rotatably arranged in said body, said actu ating means having a slot engaging with said web of said T-shaped locking means, said actuating wedge having a cross-section conforming with said opening and being adapted to be removed through said opening when it is in a position registering therewith, said locking means being in its inoperative position when said actuating means is rotated into its operative position not registering with said opening and being in its operative position when said actuating wedge is rotated into its inoperative position, and means for rotating and removing said wedge.

FRITZ RAFAEL. 

